Waste handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus useful for effecting classification, reduction, and separation of the different materials embodied in an indiscriminate mass or mixture of waste solids. It comprises impacting means for first reducing and separating the heavier of the solids followed by pulverizing and shredding means for reducing the friable and fibrous solids. The apparatus is embodied in a system which includes means to dry the solids on entry and to maintain the lighter of the solids airborne to facilitate their selective reduction and separation.

Unlted States Patent 1191 [1 11 3,902,672 Ginaven et al. Sept. 2, 1975 [5 WASTE HANDLING APPARATUS 3,692,246 9/1972 Law et a1. 241/48 X ,794,25l 2 974 W' l" 24 4 [75] lnventors: Marvin E. Ginaven; Russell M. 3 H II mm H 8 x Glnaven, both of Springfield, Oh1o Primary Examinern Roy Lakg [73] Assignee: The Bauer Bros. Co., Springfield, Assistant Examiner-E. F. Desmond Ohio Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jerome P. Bloom '1 31, 974 [22] ed Jan 1 [57 ABSTRACT [2]] Appl' 438,294 Apparatus useful for effecting classification, reduction, and separation of the different materials embod- 52 us. c1. 241/76; 241/56; 241/791 ied in an indiscriminate mass or mixture of waste 51 1111. c1. 13020 13/02 seiids- It Comprises impacting means for first reducing [58] Field of Search 241/48, 50, 55, 56, 76, and Separating the heavier of the solids followed y 241 7 79 1 pulverizing and shredding means for reducing the friable and fibrous solids. The apparatus is embodied in a 56] References Cited system which includes means to dry the solids on entry UNITED STATES PATENTS and to maintain the lighter of the solids airborne to facilitate their selective reduction and separation. 3,037,712 6/l962 Hosokawa et al. 241/56 3235.18) 2/1966 Rogers 241/56 UX 23 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEUSEP 21975 3302672 x bsouos I HEAVY souos Di PULVERIZED souvs WASTE HANDLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a new system and apparatus for salvaging re-usable solids from an indiscriminate mixture or mass of waste materials. Embodiments are particularly advantageous for use in recapturing valuable fibrous matter from a conglomeration of relatively dry solids, and will be so described by way of illustration. However, it will be readily seen that neither the nature, the application, nor the benefits thereof are so limited. Such is not in any case intended.

The benefits of the invention become quite clear when it is considered that, to this point in time, domestic and industrial trash is either incinerated or dumped in a landfill operation. Both methods of disposal are inherently wasteful and tend to pollute our environment to an ever increasing degree. Also, much valuable and re-usable material is lost in the process. This is most distressing since some of the basic material embodied in the waste is in short supply. For example, the fiber content of cellulose based material is in great demand. If recaptured in a relatively clean processable form, it can be reused in the making of new board and paper products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention answers problems above proposed. It provides a new system and apparatus for handling and separating components of what has been normally considered an indiscriminate mixture or mass of waste solid materials.

Whether domestic or industrial, solid waste is normally and primarily a composite of very dense heavy objects, friable and reducible solids of lesser density, and light objects having a fiber content, such as rags, paper and other cellulosic materials. Embodiments of the present invention take this into consideration. They provide for a staged classifying, reducing and separating operation in which heavy objects are impacted, reduced and extracted while lighter objects are carried forward to be selectively pulverized and/or shredded and thereby separated. The operation of the invention apparatus is facilitated by means creating air currents to assist in the movement of the lighter materials to their reducing station and from said station, in a reduced form, for further processing and/or salvage. The operation will heat the air and thereby influence a drying ofthe waste solids and their separated constituents. Means are also provided to effectively control dust and odor. j

A primary object of the invention is to provide waste handling apparatus which facilitates the separation and recovery of re-usable solids from an indiscriminate mixture of waste materials.

Another object of the invention isto provide means for recovering re usable fibers from a waste solids mixture which are economical to fabricate and employ, more efficient and satisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of applications and unlikely to malfunction.

A further object of the invention 'is to provide classifying apparatus capable of effecting ,a staged reduction and separation of a mixture of various solids and collecting the results thereof in a manner to facilitate their salvage and/or re-use.

An additional object of the invention is toprovide a new means for recapturing usable material from waste.

Another object of the invention is to create improved means and methods for handling waste materials to minimize the cost thereof and avoid unnecessary pollution of mans environment.

A further object of the invention is to providemeans for salvaging usable fibers from waste materials.

An additional object of the invention is to providea waste handling process and apparatus therefor possessing the advantageous features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and themeans and mode of use herein described.

With the above and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a generally diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1, taken in vertical elevation;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, a system embodying the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The elements shown include a basic reduction and separating unit 10, a cyclone separator 12 and a dust arrester 14. An outlet end of the unit 10 is connected by a conduit 16 to the inlet of the separator 12 while conduits I8 and 20 respectively communicate the overflow end 22 of the separator 12 with an inlet end of the unit 10 and the inlet of the dust arrester 14. The underflow end 24 of the separator 12 discharges to a receptacle 26. The invention is basically embodied in a new and improved reduction and separating unit 10, which, as will be seen, has specific utility and advantage per se for use in various systems and in various manner. The components of the unit 10 are embodied in a housing 28 and include a horizontally oriented drive shaft 30. The respective ends of the shaft 30 project from the respectively opposite ends of the housing 28 and are rotatably supported in bearings 32 and 34 respectively mounted on the upper ends of pedestals 30 and 38 fixed to project perpendicularly of a base 40 which underlies the housing 28.

As may be seen from FIG. 2 of the drawings, the wall structure embodied in the housing 28 defines an open chamber 29 including four generally cylindrically shaped segments, each segment having a different diameter. The first segment 42 is located at the end of the housing 28 adjacent the bearing 32 and has the greatest longitudinal extent but the smallest diameter. ltsouter periphery is defined by cylindrical wall section 44 closed to its end adjacent the bearing 32 by a wall portion 46 embodied in the adjacent end wall of the housing 28. The end of the segment42 remote from the wall portion 46 opens to the following segment 52. The segment 52 has a diameter which is substantially larger than the segment 42 but its longitudinal extent is limited. The chamber 29 is continued, in an axial sense, by a segment 54 the periphery of which is defined by a housing wall section 56 formed on a Iesser'diameter than that of the segment 52 but its diameter is nevertheless greater than that of the segment 42. The fourth segment 58 is peripherally defined by an irivolute wall section 60 the mean diameter of which is somewhat greater than the diameter of the segment 54. At the end of the chamber segment 58 remote from the chamber segment 42 a housing wall portion 62 forms a closure for one end of the housing wall section 60.

Immediately beyond the end wall section 62 of the housing 28, the shaft mounts a pulley 64through the medium of which it may be driven, as and when required. Since the drive means for the pulley 64 may be ofa conventional nature, the details thereof are neither shown or described since such is unnecessary to an understanding of the present invention.

Within the chamber 29 the shaft 30 mounts, in keyed relation thereto, a sleeve member 66. The sleeve 66 extends from immediatelyadjacent the housing wall portion 46 through the chamber segment 42 and into the chamber segment 52. Within the chamber segment 42 and the limits of its peripheral wall section 44 the sleeve member 66 has projected therefrom a series of longitudinally and circumferentially spaced lugs 68 arranged in a spiral pattern. Immediately beyond the chamber segment 42 and within the segment 52, the sleeve member 66 incorporates a conically expanded flange portion 70 followed by a relatively reduced diameter cylindrical portion 72. The latter serves to receive and mount the hub 74 of a pulverizer-shredder assembly 76 the base of which is abutted to the annular planar surface provided at the base of conical formation of the flange 70 by reason of the dimensional reduction of the portion 72 of'the sleeve member 66.

The pulverizer-shredder assembly is" comprised in this instance of a series of six spoke-like elements 78 projected in a radially and circumferentially spaced relation about the hub 74 to the end thereof abutting the flange 70. Fixed to the outer end of each spoke 78, at

one side thereof, is a triangular plate constituting a cutter element 80. Each cutter element 80 has its apex radially innermost of the related spoke 78 and centered thereon so its angular cutting edges are projected equally from opposite faces of the spoke, in a sense longitudinally of the chamber segment 52. The base por tion of each cutter element'80 projects radially outward of the related spoke and mounts in fixed relation to one face thereof a plate 82 constituting a heater bar. It is to be noted that the beater bars are inclined in a sense angularly to the plane of the spokes 78 and down wardly towards the shaft 30 in the direction of the chamber segment 42. The downwardly inclined extremities of the beater bars 82 each are provided with a tapered configuration the purpose of which will be further described. It will be seen from FIG. 2 of the drawings that the beater bars 82 extend to adjacent the peripheral wall'section53 of the segment 52 which has a roughened interior surface 55. I

Attention is directed to the fact that a baffle 84 is positioned about the shaft 30 in following relation to the pulverizer-shredder assembly 76. The baffle has a generally cylindrical configuratioi and the body thereof is supported by struts 85 in connection with the peripheral wall section 56 of thechamber segment 54. At its end adjacent the assembly 76, immediately to the rear thereof. the body of the baffle 84 includes an annular, externally projected, platelike flange 86 providing that baffle 84 effectively blocks'a direct axial flow of fluid or solids through the chamber segment 52 to the chamber segment 54. As a matter of fact the wall section 56 is extended into the chamber segment 52 to terminate in line with and short of the radially projected extremity of the flange 86 to define therewith an annular radial opening communicating the chamber segment 52 with chamber segment 54. The end of the cylindrical baffle 84 adjacent the hub of the assembly 76 is conically dished to nest about the hub and the baffle is centrally apertured to accommodate the projection therethrough of the shaft 30, a bearing seal being provided thereabout. v

The end of the chamber segment 54 remote from the assembly 76 is capped by a plate structure 88 spaced beyond the baffle 84 and having a central aperture 89 so as to define an annular passage between the chamber segment 54 and the chamber segment 58. The latter is peripherally defined by a wall section the diameter of which is slightly larger than the diameter of the segment 54. Within the chamber segment 58 the shaft 30 mounts a fan blade assembly 90. The outermost end of the housing 28 adjacent the drive pulley 64 is capped by the housing wall portion 62 having a central aperture accommodating the projection therethrough of the shaft 30 and providing a bearing seal thereabout. It will be noted that the longitudinal extent of the chamber segment 58 is limited to immediately confine the fan blade assembly 90. Immediately above the fan blade assembly 90 the wall section 60 has an opening communicating the interior of the segment 58 with the inlet end of the conduit 16.

At the top of the cylindrical wall section 44 of the housing 28, to the end thereof adjacent the end wall portion 46, is an opening 91 about which is connected the lower end of the hopper 92.

Immediately to the right of the hopper and in connection therewith, as seen in FIG. 2, is a wall structure 94 which rings the wall section 44 to define therewith an annular chamber 96. The cross section of the chamber 96 has a generally triangular configuration, the base of which is innermost and provided by a portion of the wall section 44. The latter is imperforate except for a single opening 98 at its top. A single opening 100 is provided also in the bottom of the wall structure 94, to the side thereof most adjacent the end wall portion 46 of the housing 28. The opening l00 defines an outlet from the chamber 96 which is rimmed by a downwardly and outwardly inclined chute-like discharge tube 102, the outer end of which is bridged by a hinged door 104. The latter is normally biased to a closed position and may be moved to an open position to provide for discharge of the contents of the chamber 96 to the receiving end of a screw-like feed conveyor 106 which is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Connected with an outer peripheral wall portion of the wall structure 94 defining the chamber 96 is a further wall structure 108 which defines therewith, and circumferentially thereof, an annular chamber 110. Com monly facing wall portions of the wall structures 94 and I08 define an annular wall section to the side of the chamber segment 52 most adjacent the housing wall portion 46. Such commonly facing wall portions, as will annular chamber 110, entrance openings to which are provided by the wall portion 109. The chamber 110 has a discharge opening 111 at its bottom which communicates the interior of the chamber with a screw feedtype conveyor 112.

Openings at the. top of the chamber 110 and the chamber segment 54 are rimmed by the respective ends of a conduit 114, the use of which will be further de scribed. Note furtherthat directly below the hopper 92,

at the lowermostjunction ofthe wall section 44 and the wall portion 46 of the housing 28, is an opening to,the

chamber segment 42 rimmed by the discharge end of the conduit 18. As will be further described, the conduit 18 operates to recirculate air originally heated in passage through the chamber 29, which air serves to dry the solids entering the chamber segment 42 and to entrain the lighter thereof for classification, reduction and discharge in the course of movement through and from the chamber 29.

In an illustrative use of the above described apparatus, the hopper 92 serves as a funnel for deliveringto the chamber 29 a conglomerate mass or mixture of different solids including heavy fragments of metal, lighter objects of plastic and glass and various pieces, particles or objects having a fiber content, such as those made of paper and cardboard. Whether pre-sorted to be so comprised or just taken from a conglomerate of trash, this mixture can be merely dumped into the hopper 92 and the unit energized to automatically and responsively produce a classification, reduction and separation of the received solids.

As the mixture enters the segment 42 of the chamber 29, it is met with heated air funnelled to the chamber 29 from the separator 12. This air immediately initiates a drying action tending to-remove any moisture that might enter the chamber 29 with the incoming solids. As the solids first enter, they are also met, contacted by and impacted on the rotating sleeve 66 and its spirally arranged lugs 68. The latter impose a primary rotational influence on the solids, tending to fling them outwardly of the shaft 30. The heaviest of the solids, including the fragments ofmetal will be flung outermost and impacted on the wall section 44, reduced to some extent and eventually and naturally discharged from the chamber segement 42 by way of the aperture 98. As the heavy solids enter the chamber 96, they move to its bottom, for discharge by way of the'opening 100 under the influence of gravity. With the door 104 in an open position, the heavy objects will be directed to the conveyor 106 for a separate recovery. A first stage separation of the heavy solids is thus achieved.

The lighter of the solids in the chambersegment 42 will be caughtup and moved to the chamber segment 52 under the influence-of the spirally arranged lugs 68 and the entraining flow of heated air which is delivered to the chamber segm.ent 42.byway of the conduit 18.

The, lighter solids including the fibrous materials as well as the objects and particles of plastic and glass will be somewhat reduced by the beating action of the lugs 68 in passage thereof through the chamber segment 42. As they enter the chamber segment 52, however, they come under the influence of the cutter-beater assembly 76. This assembly immediately applies a secondary rotational influence on the solids and the elements and 82 thereof serve to further reduce and separate the components of the mixture encountered thereby. For example,the rotating influence of the assembly 76 is such to fling the heavier of the objects and particles encountered thereby, such as those of plastic and glass, to the outer peripheral area of the chamber segment 52 and into contact with the roughened wall surface 53. In this outer peripheral area of the chamber the beater bars'82 tend to impact on and to pulverize the friable plastic and glass materials. They also reduce such materials by rubbing and beating them against the roughened wall surface 53. Theincliination of the beater bars 82 and the position thereof immediately adjacent the wall surface 53, as well as baffle 84, tends to contain the friable solids in an area of'the chamber segment 52 most adjacent the perforate wall surface 109. The projected tapered ends of the beater bars have a form to facilitate the fracture of and to effectively reduce any particles encountered. In any event, the structure comprised in segment 52 provides a containment of the friable solids which results in their fragmentation and eventual pulverization through the medium of the beater bars 82 and the adjacent surface 53. Under the influence of the whirling assembly 76 and the pattern of flow developed in the chamber segment 52 and assisted by the inclusion ofthe beater bars 82, the pulverized materials are caused to be separated and dis charged through the perforate wall portion 109 to the chamber 110. Once in the chamber 110, the pulverized materials move to and through the opening 111 to the feed conveyor 112. Thus a second class of solids embodied in the waste mixture is reduced and separated in a pulverized form.

Simultaneous with the beating, pulverizing and sepa rating of the friable solids, the cutter blades 80 meet the paper and carboard particles and objects coming under the influence of the cutter beater assembly 76 and cut and shred such particles and reduce them to small light fragments wherein the fibrous content is more generally exposed. The reduction of these particles is substantial, since they are under the influence of the beater bars 82 as well as the cutter plates 80. As noted, the baffle 84 prevents the solids entering the chamber segment 52 from flowing directly to the chamber segment 54. This imposes a delay in the solids movement in an axial sense and a containment of the solids entering the chamber segment 52 sufficient that a relatively complete reducing action may be effected.

The tearing and shredding of the paper and card board products will result in various small particles of fibrous content which eventually move outwardly under the rotational influence of the assembly 76 to be carried in an entraining flow of heated air which contributes to a passage of the small fibrous particles to the annular opening produced between the outer edge of flange 86 and the adjacent projected edge of the wall section 56 of the chamber segment 54. Entrained in the flow of heated air, heat having been added thereto by the energy produced in the beating process, the fiber particles are drawn into the chamber segment 58 by way of the opening 89 and under the influence of the fan blade assembly 90. The operation of the latter produces a suction effect in the chamber segment 54 which is extended to the annular passage thereto from the chamber segment 52. The fan assembly 90, so provided, is effective to induce the small fibrous particles resulting in the operation of the cutter-beater assembly to move from the chamber 29 and to and through the conduit 16 to enter the cyclone separator 12 by way of a tangentially arranged inlet. The cyclone separator 12 functions in a conventional manner to cause the entering materials to move in inner and outer rotating vortices, to the outer of which pass the fiber particles including individual fibers and fiber bundles contained in the material flow. These fibers pass from the underflow end 24 of the separator 12 to the receptacle 26 or other suitable means from which the fibers can be transferred to a paper or a paper article fabricating means. The major portion of the air entraining the fibrous material which enters the separator 12, including very minute fiber particles that do not exit from the underflow end 24, moves in a counterflow within the separator 12 to exit therefrom by way of an overflow tube 22 the discharge end of which is branched off and extended by the tubular conduits l8 and 20. A portion of this air is thereby directed back to the inlet area of the chamber segment 42 by way of the conduit 18 and the remainder, not required in the unit 10, is directed to and through the dust arrester 14 for filtering in a conventional manner before dischrge through duct 23 to the atmosphere or directed therefrom for further use. Dust is collected in the hopper bottom of 14 and discharged periodically through the valve in pipe 25. As noted previously, the air carrying the fiber particles to the separator 12 is heated by the thermal energy developed in the operation of the classifying, reduction and separating unit 10 and this heated air is constantly recycled, to the extent necessary, to serve as a drying and entraining medium for the solids introduced to the housing 28 by way of the hopper 92.

Attention is directed to the fact that the conduit 114 which communicates the chamber 110 and the chamber segment 54 serves as a passage for dust and light fibers sucked from chamber 110 and into the chamber segment 54 under the influence of the fan 90 to be carried outwardly through the conduit 16 with the other fibrous particles which move to and through the segment 54 from the segment 52.

The invention accordingly provides a staged classifying, reducing and separating unit of a highly compact and economical nature wherein, in particular, it has been illustrated that there may be extracted from a mixed conglomeration of solids a fine fibrous product resulting from contained paper and carboard articles.

To control odor and to sanitize salvaged fibers, ozone or chlorine can be injected through inlet nozzle 12] into the well dispersed fibers in chamber 54. In the chamber 54 the ozone or chlorine will be well mixed under the influence of fan 90 as it induces a positive flow of the treated fibers to the separator 12.

It will be seen therefore that the lighter materials embodied in the waste solids mixture will essentially become airborne on entry to the chamber segment 42 and have applied thereto a first or primary rotational influence inducing their movement to the chamber segment 52 where a secondary rotational influence is applied by the asembly 76, in the course of which a substantial reduction is effected. The airborne entrainment of the lighter particles is continued by and under the influence of the suction produced by the rotating fan 90, the operation of which insures a ready delivery of the lightest of the materials, the fine fiber products, for separation in the separator 12. I

The arrangement and operation of the cutter-bar assembly in the chamber segment 52 is highly effective to convert the friable materials to a fine grit-like material which is readily separated and discharged as previously described.

Obvious advantages result from the unit construction of the invention as well as the system enabled thereby. Waste materials, either domestic or industrial, or even raw materials can be introduced into the unit 10 described, and included cellulosic material will come out as a finely divided product having substantial utility for reuse. The reduction is arranged in such staged fashion that high density solids will be either removed immediately or pulverized and removed separately. In the interest of fiberizing where the fiber material product is desired as the primary end result, the staged handling of the metal, wood, plastic or glass objects as provided enables that they be ejected ahead of the fiberizing zone or substantially coincident therewith to avoid wear and damage to the defiberizing equipment. In any event, however, the equipment as provided is basically rugged and safe to use and requires a minimum of control.

In a general application, solid waste disposal can be effected in the embodiment illustrated with three separations resulting. Such separations will produce (a) air classified fibers and fiber bundles; (b) air cleaned, screened pulverized solids; and (c) heavy debris which may be in the nature of metal particles, stones and the like.

While a limited illustration of the invention is here described, it will be obvious that the stages within the separator unit 10 may be extended and that various separation and reduction efforts may-be achieved, dependent on the material to be handled.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural feature, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect and the invention is therefore claimed in anyof its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: V

1. Apparatus for selectively separating the constituents of an indiscriminate mass or mixture of various types of solids which may be friable, shreddablc or otherwise reducible, comprising a housing having an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom, a devious flow passage interconnecting said inlet with said outlet defined by means forming, within said housing, a plurality of intercommunicating chambers, means in one of said chambers for receiving and applying arotational influence to the mass or mixture of solids introduced to said housing by way of said inlet to separate therefrom the heaviest of said solids and move the remainder from said one chamber in a continuing axial flow, another of said chambers receiving said flow including therein means to oppose said flow and reverse the direction of at least a portion of the solids in said flow, said means in said other chamber including means operative to reduce therein the friable and shreddable solids received thereby and to cause at least a portion thereof to separate from said flow and to exit thereform in a direction having a sense generally reverse to the remaining solids in said flow and a further chamber receiving the then remaining solids and directing the same to ex it from said housing by way of said outlet.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by said flow opposing means in said other chamber includinga cup shaped baffle.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by said means operable to reduce friable and shreddable solids including beater means positioned and formed to induce at least a portion of the solids encountered and reduced thereby to move therefrom in a direction reverse to the original direction of said continuing flow of solids.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by said means forming said chambers including chamber wall portions. and a wall portion of said other chamber providing for passage therethrough of at least a portion of said reversely directed solids, including reduced solids which are separated thereby from said continuing flow, and means for directing at least a portion of the then remaining solids to and through said further chamber to pass therefrom and from said housing by way of said outlet.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 characterized by a further wall portion of said other chamber including abrasive surface portions adjacent to and operating in conjunction with solids reducing means to contain therebetween at least a portion of the friable and shreddable solids encountered thereby, to facilitate reduction thereof and their subsequent reversely directed movement.

6. Apparatus as in claim 4 characterized by means in connection with said wall portion which provides for passage therethrough of reversely directed and reduced solids defining a discharge chamber for receiving such solids, and conduit means interconnecting said discharge chamber with said further chamber to provide thereby a path through which light fiber solids which enter such discharge chamber may be induced to flow directly to said further chamber.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by said one chamber, said other chamber and said further chamber being in an adjacent following relation shaft means mounted for rotation in said chambers, said shaft means in said one chamber having lug-like projections and said shaft means in said other chamber mounting spoke-like projections the projected end portions of which mount cutting and heating elements operating surfaces of at least a portion of which are angled to influence a reversely directed flow of solids encountered and reduced thereby.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7 characterized by said shaft means in said other chamber being projected through 10 a cupshaped baffle positionedin. a backing relation to said spokes, to provide therewith means to oppose a direct throughflow to said further chamber of the solids received insaid other chamber. v

9. Apparatus as in claim 8 characterized by said cupshaped baffle being in a blocking relation to the entrance to said further chamber and defining, with a portion of the means defining said further chamber, an annular inlet providing a lateral passage for movement of light solid particles, including fibers, about said baffle and to and through said further chamber.

10. Apparatus as in claim 9 characterized by said further chamber having a restricted outlet for an acceler ated flow of light solid particles including fibers from said further chamber and said further chamber having in operative association therewith means for applying suction to induce the light solid particles including the fibers existing in and created in said other chamber to move to and through said further chamber.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 characterized by suction meansiin operative association with said further chamber to induce a continuing flow of solids through said chambers which are not separated from the mass or mixture of solids introduced to said housing in the course of their movement to and through said one or other of said chambers.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 characterized by means by-passing said other chamber to communicate said further chamber with said reversely directed and reduced solids on exit thereof from said other chamber.

13. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by means defining a pair of receiving chambers mounted on the means forming said one chamber, one thereof being arranged to receive the heaviest of said solids separated from the mass or mixture in said one chamber an the other thereof being arranged to receive the friable and shreddable solids particles separated from said flow of solids during movement thereof to and through said other chamber.

14. Apparatus as in claim 13 characterized by said receiving chambers being defined by means positioning one about the other and one thereof being formed in part by an apertured wall structure positioned in an adjacent facing relation to said reducing means.

15. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by the said one chamber having an axially elongated configuration the length of which is greater than that of said other chamber, the cross sectional area of which is substantially greater than that of said one chamber, and the means defining said further chamberhaving a generally cylindrical configuration and an open entrance end which is projected into one end of said other chamber to position to the rear of an in an adjacent spaced relation to a portion of said flow opposing means.

16. Apparatus in claim 1 characterized by baffle means positioning in blocking relation to the entrance to said further chamber and defining thereby an annular access opening to said further chamber which has in operative association therewith suction means for influencing the movement to said further chamber of said axial continuing flow of solids which are not sepa rated prior to reaching said further chamber.

17. Apparatus as in claim 16 characterized by means communicating said further chamber with at least a portion of the solids separated from said flow prior to reaching said further chamber to provide for a withdrawal therefrom of light fibrous particles embodied therein and an intermingling thereof with those solids which otherwise reach said further chamberv 18. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by the means defining said one chamber having a discharge opening for the said heaviest of said solids separated from the mass or mixture therein, which discharge opening is positioned upwardly of said means which applies said rotational influence to said mass or mixture.

19. Apparatus as in claim 18 characterized by said means for applying said rotational influence including rotatable shaft means mounting spirally arranged lugs.

20. Apparatus as in claim l9 characterized by back to back discharge chambers for receiving the solids and reduced particles thereof separated from the portions of said mass or mixture which are caused to move through said one and said other of said chambers.

21. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by a cyclone separator in connection with said further chamber and means defining separate passages for directing light fiber particles resulting from reduction of said solids in said other chamber to move from said other chamber to said further chamber, which separate pas sages communicate with opposite ends of said other chamber, means being provided to entrain said light fiber particles in a continuing flow to and through said cyclone separator for recovery of said fiber particles in a condition wherein they are distinct from the remainder of said solids which are passed through and reduced in said chambers.

22. Apparatus as in claim 21 characterized by said reducing means including a rotor means rotatably mounted in said other chamber outer peripheral portions of which mount a plurality of spaced angularly inclined solids reducing elements, the inclinations of which influence the reverse movement of solids encountered and reduced thereby.

23. Apparatus as in claim 21 characterized by said cyclone separator being operatively connected to deliver a drying flow of air to one of said chambers to meet with and exert a drying and entraining influence on the constituents of the mass or mixture received thereby.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,902 ,672

DATED v Sapteatebar 2 19 75 INV ENTOR(S) .farvin IT. (-Zinavan Russell Cinav-en It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 2, line; 53, the; first print-2:? correct-air to resad 36 "czarboarc? is corrasctaad to carc liaoard.

rut

Col. 7, line 29 dischrgef correctexfi to rE-ac'! Discharge;

teed to ree-a cardboard.

v01.. 7, lime-53, "carboar" is COIILEE:

Col. 7, 66 "agar-h1g correctact to 5353 ?531' Col. 5, lime 51, :fiz-aturez is corrected to raaci fuatnrees Col. 5 line; 13, their-siev corr-zezctze-xi t0 char-Efren- Col. 1 36 correecfxs-rt to an t.

(101. 1 line 54, an (let cccurremca-a) is to Signed and Scaled this third Day of February 1976 [SEAL] A tres t:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN 14116811718 ff Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks 

1. Apparatus for selectively separating the constituents of an indiscriminate mass or mixture of various types of solids which may be friable, shreddable or otherwise reducible, comprising a housing having an inlet thereto and an outlet therefrom, a devious flow passage interconnecting said inlet with said outlet defined by means forming, within said housing, a plurality of intercommunicating chambers, means in one of said chambers for receiving and applying a rotational influence to the mass or mixture of solids introduced to said housing by way of said inlet to separate therefrom the heaviest of said solids and move the remainder from said one chamber in a continuing axial flow, another of said chambers receiving said flow including therein means to oppose said flow and reverse the direction of at least a portion of the solids in said flow, said means in said other chamber including means operative to reduce therein the friable and shreddable solids received thereby and to cause at least a portion thereof to separate from said flow and to exit thereform in a direction having a sense generally reverse to the remaining solids in said flow and a further chamber receiving the then remaining solids and directing the same to exit from said housing by way of said outlet.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by said flow opposing means in said other chamber including a cup shaped baffle.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by said means operable to reduce friable and shreddable solids including beater means positioned and formed to induce at least a portion of the solids encountered and reduced thereby to move therefrom in a direction reverse to the original direction of said continuing flow of solids.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by said means forming said chambers including chamber wall portions, and a wall portion of said other chamber providing for passage therethrough of at least a portion of said reversely directed solids, including reduced solids which are separated thereby from said continuing flow, and means for directing at least a portion of the then remaining solids to and through said further chamber to pass therefrom and from said housing by way of said outlet.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 4 characterized by a further wall portion of said other chamber including abrasive surface portions adjacent to and operating in conjunction with solids reducing means to contain therebetween at least a portion of the friable and shreddable solids encountered thereby, to facilitate reduction thereof and their subsequent reversely directed movement.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 4 characterized by means in connection with said wall portion which provides for passage therethrough of reversely directed and reduced solids defining a discharge chamber for receiving such solids, and conduit means interconnecting said discharge chamber with said further chamber to provide thereby a path through which light fiber solids which enter such discharge chamber may be induced to flow directly to said further chamber.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by said one chamber, said other chamber and said further chamber being in an adjacent following relation, shaft means mounted for rotation in said chambers, said shaft means in said one chamber having lug-like projections and said shaft means in said other chamber mounting spoke-like projections the projected end portions of which mount cutting and beating elements operating surfaces of at least a portion of which are angled to influence a reversely directed flow of solids encountered and reduced thEreby.
 8. Apparatus as in claim 7 characterized by said shaft means in said other chamber being projected through a cup-shaped baffle positioned in a backing relation to said spokes, to provide therewith means to oppose a direct throughflow to said further chamber of the solids received in said other chamber.
 9. Apparatus as in claim 8 characterized by said cup-shaped baffle being in a blocking relation to the entrance to said further chamber and defining, with a portion of the means defining said further chamber, an annular inlet providing a lateral passage for movement of light solid particles, including fibers, about said baffle and to and through said further chamber.
 10. Apparatus as in claim 9 characterized by said further chamber having a restricted outlet for an accelerated flow of light solid particles including fibers from said further chamber and said further chamber having in operative association therewith means for applying suction to induce the light solid particles including the fibers existing in and created in said other chamber to move to and through said further chamber.
 11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 characterized by suction means in operative association with said further chamber to induce a continuing flow of solids through said chambers which are not separated from the mass or mixture of solids introduced to said housing in the course of their movement to and through said one or other of said chambers.
 12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 characterized by means by-passing said other chamber to communicate said further chamber with said reversely directed and reduced solids on exit thereof from said other chamber.
 13. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by means defining a pair of receiving chambers mounted on the means forming said one chamber, one thereof being arranged to receive the heaviest of said solids separated from the mass or mixture in said one chamber an the other thereof being arranged to receive the friable and shreddable solids particles separated from said flow of solids during movement thereof to and through said other chamber.
 14. Apparatus as in claim 13 characterized by said receiving chambers being defined by means positioning one about the other and one thereof being formed in part by an apertured wall structure positioned in an adjacent facing relation to said reducing means.
 15. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by the said one chamber having an axially elongated configuration the length of which is greater than that of said other chamber, the cross sectional area of which is substantially greater than that of said one chamber, and the means defining said further chamber having a generally cylindrical configuration and an open entrance end which is projected into one end of said other chamber to position to the rear of an in an adjacent spaced relation to a portion of said flow opposing means.
 16. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by baffle means positioning in blocking relation to the entrance to said further chamber and defining thereby an annular access opening to said further chamber which has in operative association therewith suction means for influencing the movement to said further chamber of said axial continuing flow of solids which are not separated prior to reaching said further chamber.
 17. Apparatus as in claim 16 characterized by means communicating said further chamber with at least a portion of the solids separated from said flow prior to reaching said further chamber to provide for a withdrawal therefrom of light fibrous particles embodied therein and an intermingling thereof with those solids which otherwise reach said further chamber.
 18. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by the means defining said one chamber having a discharge opening for the said heaviest of said solids separated from the mass or mixture therein, which discharge opening is positioned upwardly of said means which applies said rotational influence to said mass or mixture.
 19. ApparaTus as in claim 18 characterized by said means for applying said rotational influence including rotatable shaft means mounting spirally arranged lugs.
 20. Apparatus as in claim 19 characterized by back to back discharge chambers for receiving the solids and reduced particles thereof separated from the portions of said mass or mixture which are caused to move through said one and said other of said chambers.
 21. Apparatus as in claim 1 characterized by a cyclone separator in connection with said further chamber and means defining separate passages for directing light fiber particles resulting from reduction of said solids in said other chamber to move from said other chamber to said further chamber, which separate passages communicate with opposite ends of said other chamber, means being provided to entrain said light fiber particles in a continuing flow to and through said cyclone separator for recovery of said fiber particles in a condition wherein they are distinct from the remainder of said solids which are passed through and reduced in said chambers.
 22. Apparatus as in claim 21 characterized by said reducing means including a rotor means rotatably mounted in said other chamber outer peripheral portions of which mount a plurality of spaced angularly inclined solids reducing elements, the inclinations of which influence the reverse movement of solids encountered and reduced thereby.
 23. Apparatus as in claim 21 characterized by said cyclone separator being operatively connected to deliver a drying flow of air to one of said chambers to meet with and exert a drying and entraining influence on the constituents of the mass or mixture received thereby. 